Product Details

• Actors: Elena Brower
• Directors: n, a
• Format: Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: ANCHOR BAY
• DVD Release Date: December 4, 2007
• Run Time: 51 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000WC38B4
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,612 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The instructor, Elena, was kind enough to answer some questions from Amazon.com about the Element line of DVDs.

You have an impressive list of celebrity clients--Gwyneth Paltrow, Naomi Watts and Rebecca Romijn among others. What do you try to bring to a yoga practice that draws in people who literally have access to the best teachers in the country?

Each of my clients receives what I’ve learned from my teachers; attention, precision and authenticity. Celebrity or not, I always offer my complete focus in order to understandably articulate what each student needs, speaking to their bodies, their minds and their hearts. Ultimately, the alignment cues I offer are not just for the physical pose, they’re intended to help my clients to observe and refine their inner connections, enhancing every experience.

What are the biggest benefits your students reap from yoga?

Consistency and healing. My teachers have taught me to attentively offer meticulous alignment instruction so students may have a direct experience of healing. When you’re consistently aligned physically, your breathing deepens, your mind and heart begin to work in clear harmony with one another, and invariably your body heals in a subtle way. This healing, whether physical or emotional, is reflected in every one of your interactions and relationships.

Who is this workout good for?

If you’re curious about yoga, this is an inspiring introduction. if you’ve got a practice already, you’ll find this is a respectably challenging sequence for a led home practice. And if you’re giving the gift of yoga to a friend, this DVD sets the standard for beauty and production quality. .

How do the Element DVDs differ from other workout programs?

Element DVDs are presented by teachers who have spent many years learning, practicing and teaching; it’s an honor to be included. Each of us endeavors to offer a strengthening practice to challenge you to shift toward balance in both mind and body. In particular, this yoga sequence will provide practitioners of all levels with an uplifting, motivating practice for years to come..

Tell us about the connection between this production and the efforts to reduce global warming.

Anchor Bay Entertainment recently became a corporate sponsor of the Arbor Day Foundation. For every four Element DVDs sold, a tree will be planted in a national forest- so when you’re harmonizing within yourself, you’re also harmonizing with the environment. Over the course of 50 years, that single tree can provide $62,000 worth of air pollution control, recycle $37,500 worth of water, and control $31,500 worth of soil erosion.

Product Description

ELEMENT MIND & BODY EXPERIENCE:YOGA F - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 &1/2 stars! Almost perfect except, January 23, 2008

By 

Trish "A Sun Salutin', Crochet Hookin' Chick!" (CA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Element: Yoga for Beginners (DVD)

(What's this?)

I enjoyed this DVD. The instructors voice and presence are soothing, the background (hanging gardens overlooking the Pacific) are breathtaking and the music is serene and effective.
The practics starts with:
1. Breathwork and Warm-up. This includes sitting while practicing Ujjayi breathing and warming up the legs with light lunging and standing forward bend.
2. Standing Poses and Sun Salutations. The series starts with 2 modified Sun Salutations and then a series of standing poses including, Warrior 1 & 2, Triangle, Side Angle Pose and a Side Angle Twist
3. Hip Openers. The Hip Openers started with Pigeon Pose which I think is a bit difficult for a true beginners with no training from a teacher..
4. Backbends. I like the Backbend series here for beginners. It starts with a light cobra, then moves on to a modified locust pose series. It ends with a counterpose to release the backbends which feels nice.
5. Forward Bends/Stretch/Relaxation. This is all a nice calming series ending with a short meditation.
Overall, I give this DVD 4 and 1/2 stars taking off 1/2 star because I think this is really for an advanced beginner. There is not enough mention of foot, knee, and/or hip alignment and I think it would be very easy to injure your joints without this knowledge. A tutorial in the beginning of the DVd would have been perfect. Maybe with a lined mat showing beginners where to place their feet.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Highs and Lows, April 11, 2008

By 

Cherise Everhard (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Element: Yoga for Beginners (DVD)

(What's this?)

3.5 Stars.

There are elements of this yoga video that I absolutely love; there are also elements that I do not like at all.

The Highs:
The scenery is absolutely gorgeous and the music is perfect for both the activity and the setting.
The beginning of the DVD is relaxing; with the breathing and the stretching it does wonders for your tension and stress.
The ending of the DVD is the same as the beginning. Very relaxing, both the breathing and the stretching are as relaxing as it is invigorating.

The Lows:
The middle of the DVD she gets into some Yoga positioning and really doesn't take the time for the newbie to follow along. Also she switches positions and what not without telling you so if you are not watching the TV screen the whole time you miss some very vital stuff.

I am not a beginner at Yoga, but most of my Yoga experience has been integrated with a Pilates based workout. I watched the DVD twice before actually doing the exercises as when I do Yoga there are times I like to have my eyes closed. That's next to impossible to do on the majority of the middle of the DVD. A lot of the time you have to move fast and watch the whole time; I didn't like that at all. I prefer to listen to the voice guide me through the exercises.

The good definitely outweighs the bad, but I can already tell it's not going to be one of my favorite exercise DVD's.

Cherise Everhard, April 2008

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars not for beginners, December 13, 2007

By 

Sophia Dembling (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Element: Yoga for Beginners (DVD)

While this is not a bad DVD, it is far too strenuous and, in places, complex for real beginners. Only try this if you have at least some experience in a yoga class.